NEW CPE REGULATION:  Effective with the January, 2009, renewals, all registrants will now be required to submit 80 hours of CPE per renewal cycle, regardless of profession.  Included in the new ruling is also the requirement for a minimum of 16 hours of live or interactive webinar instruction, and a minimum of 16 hours of tax, accounting or auditing.  The new regulation is available for review at the attached link. R4-1-453

MOBILITY LAW:  The Arizona Legislature has passed and the Governor has signed SB1227, the new Mobility Law allowing "limited reciprocity" for out-of-state CPA's.  The effective date of the law is September 26, 2008.

ANNUAL MEETING:  The Arizona State Board of Accountancy will once again be holding its annual meeting at the Arizona Historical Society (map). The meeting dates will be Thursday & Friday, August 14 & 15, 2008.

CPE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP OPENING:  If you are interested in serving on the CPE Committee, there is an immediate opening for membership.  The Committee meets once a month on a Tuesday afternoon for approximately 90 minutes.  If interested, please contact Jim Dubé, Deputy Director, at 602.364.0804.

OUT-OF-STATE CPA'S: DO I NEED TO REGISTER WITH ARIZONA?  If you are an out-of-state CPA questioning the requirement to be licensed in Arizona to service Arizona clients, please remember that if you are not physically entering Arizona at any time to service your client, you are not required to register with the Arizona State Board.  The exception to this would be if your client is one of the casinos currently located on an Indian reservation in Arizona.  The Arizona Gaming Commission requires in all of its compacts with referenced casinos that all restricted financial services be provided only by CPA's registered with the Arizona State Board of Accountancy.  For more information on licensing requirements, look specifically at A.R.S. 32-725 [which includes the 60-calendar-day law in 32-725(D)]. 

NEW CPE FILLABLE REPORTING FORM:  A new fillable CPE reporting form is now available on the 'Forms & Applications' page (updated July, 2008, to reflect new CPE requirements).  Please note that the spreadsheet is in an Excel format and has three tabs.  The first tab has non-editable formulas in the summary on the bottom left that automatically sum up the CPE by subject code.  The 2nd & 3rd tabs are continuation sheets that could be used as necessary.  The formulas in the 1st tab pick up any hours listed in the 2nd & 3rd tabs so that the total should be automatic.  If you choose to use the fillable form, it is recommended that you open and save the form to a file where you can record your CPE as it's taken throughout your renewal cycle and then simply print, sign & date the form at renewal time.  The non-fillable form is also still available on the Forms & Applications page for those choosing to print and handwrite their hours in lieu of the fillable format. (Fillable Form).

ARIZONA STATEMENT OF CITIZENSHIP: Effective with the February 2008 renewals, all registrants will receive with their biennial renewal form the Arizona Statement of Citizenship & Alien Status document.  This document MUST BE COMPLETED and returned with its required supporting documentation to the Arizona State Board of Accountancy office with the registrant's renewal form.  Pursuant to A.R.S. § 1-501, an individual applying for licensure with the State of Arizona must provide documentation that the applicant is lawfully present in the United States.

PEER REVIEW UPDATE Pursuant to A.A.C. R4-1-454, all firms performing restricted financial services or full disclosure compilation services will need to complete a peer review within the three years immediately preceding the firm's registration date.  For further information, please review the attached hyperlink.

EXAM CANDIDATES: The AICPA has informed the Board that effective July, 2008, they are launching a New Research Response Format, which simplifies the way candidates will respond to research questions.  For updates and directions, please preview the attached bulletin.  A tutorial demonstrating the upgraded simulations is available at www.cpa-exam.org.  Candidates who are or will be scheduled to take the examination after July, 2008, are encouraged to review the bulletin to become familiar with the new functionality of the exam.

CPE PROVIDERS: The Board does not pre-approve CPE providers.  A.A.C. R4-1-453(C) addresses the issue of what qualifies a program for CPE.  Providers please note that regulation places responsibility for viable continuing education upon the individual CPA.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS:  Please note that all changes to either the personal or business address must be reported to the Board office within 30 days of the change (see R4-1-346).  To make a change, simply fax (602.364.0903), email (with attachment) or mail the Board office the following information: your name, your license number, your old address, your new address and your signature.  No specific form is required for the change.

REGISTRATION RENEWALS are due in our office by close of business on the last business day of the month you are scheduled to register; see R4-1-345(B).

CPE REPORTED on the CPE reporting form should be the total CPE credit-hours completed during the renewal period.  The CPE requirement is a minimum of 80 hours if you are a CPA in public practice and 60 hours if working for business, industry or government.  Beginning in 2005, every registrant is required to obtain 4 hours in ethics every renewal cycle [R4-1-453(D)(5)].

PRIVACY STATEMENT